wheeler



(No Model.)

J. E. WHEELER.

GRAPPLING HOOK.

No. 303,408. Patented Aug. 12, 1884.

izhl'tneg s isej:

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EiucE.

JOSEPH F. WHEELER, OEWYOGENA, VISCQNSIN.

G FlAPPLING-HOOK.

EPECIFICATION" forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,408, dated August 12, 1884.

Application filed March 6, 1884., (No model.)

To wZZ whom, it may can/earm- Be it known that I, JosErn F. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vyocena, in the county of Columbia and State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grappling Hooks; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a hook with which pump-tubes may be withdrawn from wells, or other weights of like shape be elevated in a vertical position; and it consists in a spiral-shaped hook which is adapted to slide down upon the surface of the tube or shaft freely of its own gravity, and which will, as soon as drawn upward, engage upon the surface thereof, whereby the same is elevated.

My invention is further explained by reference to the accompanying drawing,which represents a perspective view of the same attached to a tube.

The lifting-hook, consisting of the spiralshaped plate A, is tapered from its back or periphery 0 toward its center,forming an edge, B, adapted to engage, when drawn upward, upon the surface of the tube E. The spiral curve of the plate A is such that in describing a circle around the tube a space, F, is

provided between the upper and lower ends,

G and H, for the admission of the tube E, whereby the hook maybe attached to the tube at any point desired by slightly inclining the same. To the upper end, Gr, of the spiral plate is attached a' chain, I, by which thehook and tube are elevated. Vheu the chain is lowered or slackened, the hook A slides freely down upon the tube; but as soon as the chain is drawn upward the edges B of the hook engage firmly in the surface of the tube, and the same is drawn up Without liability of slipping.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. As a new article of manufacture, the device herein described for liftingtubes or shafts vertically, consisting in the spirally-curved plate or hook A, adapted to surround and engage upon the periphery of the tube to be elevated, provided with a'lifting-chain, I, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the spiralshaped plate or book H, having inward-projecting edge I3, adapted to engage in the surface of the tubeopening F, for the admission of the tube E, and chain I, attached to the upper coil of said spiral hook, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH F. \VHEELER. 

